Estudio de los factores asociados a la infección tuberculosa latente en inmigrantes menores de 35 años

Objetivo

Analizar la prevalencia de infección tuberculosa latente (ITL) en inmigrantes.

Método

Se revisaron los pacientes de una unidad de enfermedades importadas de Barcelona menores de 35 años.

Resultados

Se practicaron 837 pruebas de tuberculina. Se leyeron 728 y se detectaron 351 casos (48,2%) de ITL. Tenían mayor prevalencia los de mayor edad y los africanos.

Conclusiones

Los inmigrantes presentan elevadas prevalencias de ITL. Pocas personas siguen todas las indicaciones, lo que hace necesario mejorar las estrategias de cribado, diagnóstico, prescripción y cumplimiento del tratamiento preventivo.

Objective

To analyze the prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection in immigrants.

Method

A review was performed of patients less than 35 years old who were seen in an imported disease unit in Barcelona (Spain).

Results

A total of 837 tuberculin tests were performed, 728 were read and 351 (48.2%) cases of latent tuberculosis infection were detected. Older patients and those from Africa showed the highest prevalence.

Conclusions

Immigrants in our setting present a high prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection. Few patients follow all the indications, making it necessary to improve strategies directed toward screening and diagnosis, as well as prescription and compliance with preventive treatment.